134 



COMPOUND FOR SHEEP AND BULLOCKS. 



Directions for making Compound for Sheep. 



Let a qi;iaiitity of linseed be reduced to a fine meal, and bar- 

 ley to the thickness of a wafer, by a crushing-machine with 

 smooth cylinders {see Engraving). Put 168 lbs. of water into 

 an iron copper, and as soon as it boils, not before, stir in 21 lbs. 

 of linseed meal; continue to stir it for about five minutes, then 

 let 63 lbs. of the crushed barley be sprinkled by the hand of 

 one person upon the boiling mucilage, while another rapidly 

 stirs and crams it in. After the whole has been carefully in- 

 corporated, which will not occupy more than five or ten mi- 

 nutes, cover it down and throw the furnace-door open. Should 

 there be much fire, put it out. The mass will continue to 

 simmer from the heat of the caldron, till the barley has 

 absorbed the mucilage; when the kernels will have resumed 

 nearly their original shape, and may justly be compared to 

 little oil-cakes, which, when cold, will be devoured with avi- 

 dity. 



For Bullocks, 



the same process is to be observed ; but the barley must be 

 ground to the finest meal by millstones, and the quantity 

 of water reduced to about 150 lbs. There is this difference 

 also : in the former case the fire need not be extinguished, but 

 in the latter it must, or at least be damped. The reason is 

 obvious; for flattened barley requires heat to carry on absorp- 

 tion; while meal is sufficiently cooked by immersion. 



It may be asked, why should not the compound for sheep 

 be equally adapted for bullocks ? I answer, that sheep are 

 close-ruminating animals, and pass nothing undigested ; while 

 with bullocks it is far otherwise. This the practical observer 

 , will soon discover. Nor let the amateur disdain the inquiry ; 

 because his success as a farmer mainly depends upon the fat- 

 tening of cattle. He must now think and act for himself, and 

 no longer be guided by antiquated maxims and customs 

 founded upon idleness, ignorance, and prejudice. 



I repeat, therefore, that it is not necessary for barley, or 

 even linseed, to be reduced to fine meal for sheep ; but for 



